How to Keep Mosquitoes out of your Yard

Mosquitoes can be a real nuisance during the summer, not to mention potentially dangerous with the diseases that they transmit. This article looks at ways of keeping them out of your yard.

Things You'll Need

• Repellent
• Insecticide
• Pool cover
• Drainage tools
• Pool Cleaner

Instructions

1. 

   The two most common places to find mosquitoes are in woodland, and near sources of stagnant or still water. The reason being that they can find both food and shelter in woodland, and lay their eggs in water. Assess what kinds of habitats mosquitoes are being attracted to in your yard.

2. If you have any sources of still water in your garden then they should be either drained or treated to stop mosquitoes from setting up home. Treating the water of a pond or similar is fairly easily, and there are a large variety of products that can kill both larval and egg stages in mosquitoes life cycle. They don't tend to stop adult mosquitoes from visiting, but they do stop a population from living in your yard.

3. 

   If you have a problem with mosquitoes gathering in your yard due to tree coverage, then another option is the use of foggers to kill any present and repel the rest. These usually resemble canisters which release insecticide into the air over a few minutes. Many tend to kill a lot of insects, but there are also more species specific ones available.

4. 

   If you have a pool, then they often attract mosquitoes and you may end up getting bitten when you go in there. Many pool treatments will prevent eggs from hatching, although keeping your pool covered when not in use is a good precaution.

5. 

   Although large areas of water are easily treated, boggy ground and marshland are a lot more difficult to treat. If the areas are only very small, and the result of poor drainage or something similar, then draining them and repairing the problem is the best option.

6. If you have any garden furniture, such as a gazebo or sheltered seating area, then covering them with mosquito netting should keep them away for the most part. Also keeping an insect repellent candle handy for when you are sitting outside is a good idea, as this ensures bites are kept to a minimum.

Tips & Warnings

• Only female mosquitoes ever feed on blood, males feed on nectar from flowers.